davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-16
OIeOmargnrine Butter, OIeOmnrgnrine

While our Legislators have their hands in,
would it not he II good plan to tackle the
bogus lard question 1t is well known
fact to the dealers in lard that nineteen
twentieths of all the lard sold by the trade
is adulterated more or less, mainly more
Pure kettle rendered lard cannot he made
today with hogs at eight cents per pound,
for less than 100 cents at wholesale If
this is doubted, let the doubters buy the
leaf and try out. They will find that it
costs cents Now, sir, how is the trade
supplied at 1913 to s. per cwt: We AN
swer simply by authorizations. Cotton seed
oil may be IA very good thing in itself Tai
low stearine may have its proper use but
they are neither of them hogs lard Yet
they constitute full go per cent of the or
binary lard of commerce. When this com
pound is loaded with from 10 to 20 per cent
of water it is easy to furnish it at : cents
Wholesale But is it the kind of stuff the
consumers want Is it what they expect
to get when they buy lard This stuff is
put up in nice attractive packages, finely
labeled, and the better the style the bigger
the fraud. We assert boldly that the but
ter fraud was not as vilainous as the lard
fraud of today This is not confined to one
man or one house the entire trade is de
and there dealer would handle the bogus
butter. We see refined lard offered for
sale In this case refining simply means
adulterating, (wherc it will bear it, instead
of removing impurities. Times have chang
ed The writer well remembers when tai
low was cheapened with lard. Cheap kero-
sene has played its part here to cheaper
tallow. Now with rough tallow at ,! and
Be, lard is adulteratcd with beef tallow,
but straight tallow is not as good for the
frauds as tallow stearine that has no short
ening properties, but it stiifens up cotton
seed oil finely, and makes a fine compound
to cheat the uninitated. Our legislators
should look into this thing generously. The
facts are not wanting to prove all the writer
has asserted. Much more might he added
to the villainous frauds in this business of
selling refined steam render ed" aud
other finely got up brands of bogus lard.
| The terra alba, or white earth and tale, to
| give body and consistency to the stuff, may
be treated of in the future. We think we
have shown that grease has been offered
and sold right along for two-thirds to three
quarters of what genuine lard can be made
! for. With the vast amount of fraudulent
| goods ON the market, individuals whe have
to use lard should only purchase of partie,
who know what they sell and are willing t.
! guarantee it as strictly pure kettle rem
dered hogs lard. Then the purchasers have
their remedy if aduterated stuff is sold t.
them for the pure goods.
The writer will feel more than paid if he
shall succeed in stirring up the general
public and the Legislature to IA fraud that i,
worse in its effect because more general
than oleomargarine butter,-Uticd Morning
! Hpud.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-16
Cost of Production.

Prof. Sanborn, of the Missouri Agricult-
ural Farm, by series of experiments,
reaches the conclusion that the per cent of
food consumed steadily declines as the ami
NAL increases in size, and as steadily re
quires greater amount of food to make a
pound of pork and the the larger the ami
NAL gets, the greater the amount of food
required to make pound of pork. By a
great deal of information gathered at nsti-
tutes and by correspondence he finds the al
most universal belief that hogs make more
paying improvement from 1850 po lnds up
wards than below that weight Well in
formed men know that the first 100 pounds
of pork costs less than the second, and so
on. But the almost universal belief is that
the most has not been made out of lot of
hogs unless they are fatted to heavy weights,
although some accept the fact that pork can
he made the cheapest from the pig to 1870
pounds Yet these same men seldom sell
at $50 pounds weights, even if it can be
easily done at the top price then prevailing.
The pile of money they bring then is not as
large as they wish, and, besides this, the
belief that holds with the neighbors that
it is too light weight to sell at--has much
to do with the holding on. 1t always APP
peared to us that farmer was slow 10 an
swer the question as to how much his hogs
weighed, if they were small if large, the
answer comes bright and clear
Yet aside from these prejudces and be
lefs the fact has been fully demonstrated
that "A given amount of food fed to a fifty
pound pig will make almost double tn,
amount of pork it would ii fed to a $50
Douud hog
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-16

A Vermont town clerk has just received
a letter from an Iowa farmer inquiring if
farms may be bought in the officials town.
The Western man intends to sell out and
settle in Vermont, believing that he can
thereby have larger and surer income.
This purpose to change the scene Of farm
ing work, moreover, is formed in state
which, by the census Of 1880, had over %,
600, 600 acres of land used for farms val
ued in round numbers. at SjGS, 900, 0OO,
while the new home would he in a state
whose farm area in the year mentioned
was { $50, jSS acres, valued at Sl09, 49,
0l0.
This authentic instance of looking to
New England for good agricultural results
may fairly be taken as Il token that the rush
for the West is one day to be succeeded 10y
reaction. Deserted New England will
begin to blossom in the minds eye of the
small farmer, crowded out by rich and
large agricultural operators in the fertile
West. The small capital, it will be seen,
stands a better chance in "A rural Eastern
community, not to speak of the social and
educational advantages that the old home
may offer The le-aged man who for
sock his ancestral acres in New England,
fairly dazzled 10y the prospect of AN easy
way TO wealth in the reckoning West, will
come back, glad TO cultivate the fields he
despised for the glamour is gone.
Recent observations in certain hill towns
in western Massachusetts, showed that the
tide had turned. An apprecable degree of
reoccupation where there had been deserted
homesteads was noted. The general de-
pressed feeling has given way to some
hopefulness. The worst, it was evident,
had been faced Land given over as scarce
ly worth cultivatlng was receiving more
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-16

In large part of the country it seems
to be hardly known even among the most
intelligent classes that moccupied farms
are common any where in the United States
An editorial in the National Stockman and
Farmer says that ut may infuse little
more cheerfuness into some of our farm
ers, who are Respondent over the agricultu-
raj troubles which they have met with, to
know that the condition of farming has
never been so bad in this country but that
it showed up handsomely in comparison
with the same business in some other parts
of the world. An unoccupied farm in
America Is not often found but in county
Essex, England, there are in view of n sin
gle point seventy-hve farms without ten
ant, aggregating , .412 acres, lying mostly
idle because they cannot be cultivated at n
profit even at rents which seem exceedingly
low in comparison with those of recent pc
riods A similar state of things is said to
exist in many other parts of England with
no immediate prospect of Improvement
What n woful condition of things Farm
rents are low over here-often not amount
ing to more than two, three and four per
cent on the investment-but tenants are
usually abundant at these figures. There
are depths of depression which our people
have never sounded, and to which it is to
he hoped they may always he strangers
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-16
Ground BOne---AnnlySes by the Stntc
Agricultural Experiment station.

Analyses Of eight samples of ground bone
manufactured or sold in this state are pub
lished in bulletin No. 3, recently issued, Of
the state agricultural experiment station
No license is required for incorporated
fertilizers, like ground bone, and no special
provision is made for their analysis, but it
falls within the proper work of the station,
Two of the eight samples analysed were
manufactured within the state one at st.
Johnsbury and the other 10y the Valley
Mill Co., Brattleboro. The valuation of the
samples ranged from $l3 20 to SlS.0G, or,
emitting the last, from S3l O6 to Si3 20,
averaging $1,000 per ton. The average
selling price is about SIS per ton or about
three per cent above the average valuation.
Only the average selling price is given, 1t
would add to the value of the report if the
selling price of each kind was stated with
the valuation. The bulletin fails to show
what manufacturer sells ground bone for
less than the valuation But there is never
time when ground bone cannot he bought
by the ton for less than its valuation com
puted according to the station methods.
The bulletin will be sent tu any one ON np-
plcation to the director of the station, W.
W. Cooke, Burlington.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-16
AGRICULTURAL.


We have noticed more smut this year in
the cornfelds of this neighborhood than
usual. II has been frequently said that it
has been caused by the excessively wet
weather Of this season but the increase of
the fungus appears to he general in n large
part Of the country, including the whole or
part Of the region that has suffered 50 Sc
vercly from drought, and people there have
believed that it was caused 10y the dry
weather.
A Missouri correspondent sends 10 the
Stockman and Farmer to learn the cause
Of so much smut in the corn of this year.
"There seems to be ten times as much ms
ever before, he writes, "and the weather
has been exceedingly dry--so dry that corn
in this part will not make one-fourth Of a
crop. We have have had no rain here
since the first day Of July, aud won't there
he great danger in feeding the fodder to
cattle ~
To these inquiries Waldo f. Brown an
swers "Smut belongs to the fungi, the
same family of plants as the mushroom,
and is parasite. There is no known rem
edy for smut in corn, although in wheat
and other small grains soaking the seed in
strong brine or a solution of blue vitriol is
said to destroy the spores 10y which it is
propagated ! have noticed more smut
than usual this year, and cannot account
for it, except that the season being dry the
plant may have less vigor to resist enc
mics
Exactly how the spores of this fungus
are brought in contact with the corn, how
long and under what circumstances they
will retain their vitality, perhaps no one
knows. 1t is certainly safe to take great
care to prevent the smut from being gath
cred in with the corn or left on the field.
The best way to dispose of the husks, stalks
or ears affected with the fungus is to col
lect and burn them.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-16
Scnbby Potatoes.

The cause of scabby potatoes is discussed
as follows by Editor Carman and DR.. Hos
kins;
'For some years many farmers and ex-
perimenters have been trying to ascertain
the cause of scahby potatoes but it still re-
mains a mystery. Some think the scab is a
fungus growth others think they have
proved it to be disease of the skin, which
by rapid growth or other causes has in some
way been injured still others are satisfied
that it is caused by wire worms. Among
the latter is Editor Carman of the Rural
New Yorker He says
we hear of land in which scabby pota-
toes abound though, it is said, the wire
worm is unknown. We are inclined to the
belief now, as we We're five years ago, that
this worm causes scabby potatoes at the Ru-
raj grounds, whatever may cause it else
where. Why We can raise scabby pota-
toes to order by planting them in soil where
there is plenty of vegetable matter, as leaves,
for instance. Wire-worms like leaves, and
they accumulate without end in any little
plot where leaves may have been turned un-
der. 1t is the same when mulch of ma
nure is put on the surface of the ground
They congregate between the manure and
soil in immense quantities Potatoes raised
scab and it is the wire-wOrm that causes
it. Our readers will pardon such positive
assertion, when we tell them that, having
examined the potatoes in various stages of
growth, we find the wire-worm at work (;
find them cooled up in the corrugated hol-
lows or in contact with the little sores, if we
may so call them, when they first appear,
We do not say that IA similar disease is not
caused by fungus. We merely express
the belief that what we know as scab is in
our land caused by the wire worm. For
the third year, we have found that powder
ed sulphur used with chemical fertilizers in
the drills hills or trenches keeps the wire
worms away, and, consequently, the tuber,
are fnee from scAb.
I'VE have never been seriously troubled
with scabby potatoes, but we have some
times been obliged to put a few into the
cellar. Our experience has led us to believe
that the scab is caused 10y fungus growth
instead of II wire-worm, We have never
had scabby potatoes except when planted il
soil which contained large amount of de
caying vegetable matter, and we never could
find wireworms enough to cause IA hun
dredth part Of the trouble
If Editor Carman could see the scabb,
specimens that are found in some fields th
year he would give up his wire-worm theory
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-16
Horticulture aud Civilization.

From the admirable address, of Prof
Meehau, before the Pennsylvania state
horticultural association, we extract the
following: The grape seems to have been
"A native of Asia, and native grapes are found
in Japan and China that are very similar
10 our wild grapes. In the study of the
grape, therefore, we might have a clue TO
the history of the Indian. There are
forms of vegetable growth which follow man
without any apparent reason and a certain
botanist has claimed that he could tell the
nationality of a man by the weeds that
surrounded him. The high civiliza-
ton of the nineteenth century is clvilza-
ton which comes of a careful regard for
the good of others. The earlier civilization
was of a different sort Now the chief end
of civilization seems 10 be TO promote the
well-beng of others, and in no line of ma
terial operation is so much contributed TO
this civilization as in that of horticulture
IA love for and n cultivation OF the beau
tiful. A striking illustration of beautiful
character of this kind is found in the life
of the late Charles Downing "a man of faith
and prayer, whose death we so deeply
mourn to-day. His horticultural pur-
suits undoubtedly had moulding influence
in the formation of his character A love
for flowers begets love for humanity; and
TO love humanity and to look 10 its highest,
noblest development is civilization
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-16

A correspondent at South Newbury, VT,
asks for instructions in this matter having
failed of success with cuttings made in the
spring. after the buds had started In soils
that do not heave with frost, the cuttings
may be made and planted in the fall, MS soon
as the leaves have fallen from the bushes.
The new wood (current years growth is
best suited to this purpose. Cut the shoots
into uniform lengths Of y to 10 inches dig
a straight trench, with one side smoothly
sloped at an angle Of about ~ degrees, and
deep enough 50 that the shoots, with one
end resting on the bottom Of the trench, will
protrude an inch or more after the trench is
filled Place them about or inches apart,
and carefully I'll up, pressing the soil as
firmly as possible against the shoots, espec-
tally at the bottom Care should be taken
to plant them right end top up. If this
fall planting is practiced in soil that has
tendency to heave by frost, even though
slight, it is best to draw the earth over the
shoots 50 MS TO bury them entirely in the
fall, removing it early in the spring
In ground that heavcs badly, another
method is practiced, which is equally appli-
cable in all soils. The cuttings are made as
above, tied in bundles Of say 80 each, with
the bottoms quite even. and buried perpen-
dicularly in the ground with the bottoms
upward deep enough 50 that the bottoms
(Which are now, by position, the tops shall
be six inches or more below the surface
Ram the dirt in tightly about and between
the branches and fill up the hole, pressing
the soil in firmly and leaving the top crown
ing The hole should be dug in place
where the water will not settle and stand
after rains or thaws, and it is a good plan to
throw IA forkfull or two of straw over the
spot. In the spring, rs soon AS possible dis
inter the bundles, and plant the cuttings in
trenches, just as described for fall planting
only the tops should be left uncovered Dur
ing their winters burial the cuttings will
have formed callus at the bottom Of each,
from which roots will be quickly thrown out,
and they will make strong plants by fall if
the soil is good They may then he trans
planted into rows for fruting. The same
practice answers for gooseberries, or any
other woody shrubs that can lie propagated
in this way.-RWdi IermoHicr.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-16
Mixing of Melons, Cucumbcr-, Etc

In answer to AN inquiry from CORE
spondent who asked if the seeds of melons
grown near cucumbers will produce
fruits which are a cross or mixture of the
two kinds, and also whether squashes and
pumpkins are liable to become mixed, Dr.
Hoskins, whose knowledge of botany and
whose experience as scotsman should
make him good authority, says;
From our own experience, as well as
from all we can learn otherwise, we do not
think that crosses are possible between
markedly distinct genera of the cucurbita-
ceous (gourd like plants, to which all these
vines belong We do not think there has
ever been a cross between melons and Gu
cumbers, between watermelons aud musk
melons, or between pumpkins and the true
squashes, though pumpkins and what are
called summer and crookneck squashes will
mix easily But the different varieties of
cucumbers, of muskmelons, of watermel-
ons, of gourds, of thick -stemmed squashes,
and of the luted -stemmed squashes and
pumpkins, intermix with great ease, and
cannot be kept pure and distinct when
planted near each other. The utmost care
Of seedsmen will not prevent their being
mixed sometimes at considerable distances,
by insects which carry the pollen from one
10 another on their bodies
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-16

Bonny clabber is the latest food craze
coming this way. Set milk in warm
place until it sours and becomes thick like
cheese then slice it and sprinkle little
salt upon it, and You have the most delicate,
delicious and wholesome food known to
man. Everybody is eating it. q
As "A rule, all summer pruning checks
growth, and by producing maturity Of wood
and fruit buds, induces fruitfulness All
winter and early spring pruning favors
growth, l. e., causes n more eNuherant
growth in the parts remaining.
The census of live stock in France taken
by order of the French agricultural depart
ment enumcrates Cattle. 49, TO-, 900
sheep, -, GIG, 600 swine, Z, Ssl 600; horses,
2,9l 900; goats, ,iS3. 900; mules, 23S.
600 asses 3S1, 900. This is an increase in
all classes compared with last year 4; in cat
tie the increase amounts to .GjS. 900 head
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-16
Railroads.
VERMONT VALLEY RAILROAD.
NEW LONDON NORTHERN RAIL ROAD

Trains leave Brtttlchuru ~ folluwS:
5.2i A. NJ for Springfield and New York
800 4 n tor Nillri~ Falls
lu."n a. NJ for conn River r. r. Mlrre Falls, Pal
u,r New London, litrhhurg, boston, llou-ac
Tunnel. etc.
80 49,, White Mountain express for New York
via Springfield
3.ll T.. AZ mail fir Sew York via Springfield and
Steamboat train for Sew York via Sew London.
connects al Miller, Fails Ht $50 with fuchhurg
train for Boston
I:ror. ~ express for Springfield and New York.
GOlNG NORTH
Trains arrive Zoe Brattrhoru:
1923 A. ~ from NrV London and New York
II ~ D. NJ from NIlrr~ Falls, lluu~aD Tunnel Dos
tom. Eltohhurc. etc.
ESQ y from Springfield Sew York a Montreal
express
40 j.. ". from Palmer, Sew London and Boston.
j.52 =. 81. from Springfield
1910 r 81 from Springfield and New York
II .3l e. n from New London and Boston via Nil
lc'- Falls G. g. SPAtIblNG. Smt.
N'w London Conn. Tuesday. July . lSS'.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-16

The season of the cattle show and fair is
again at hand So the time goes by, We
may think the days are as long as ever, es-
pecially when our labor is tiresome but as
long as active life continues the older we
become the shorter seem the years.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-16

In the combination, proportion and preparation
of its ingredients Hoods Sarsaparilla accom-
pshes cures where other preparations entirely
fail. Peculiar m its good name at home, which Is
a tower Of strength abroad. peculiar in the phr-
nomenal sales it has attained, Hood Snrsapurilla
is the most successful medicine for purifying the
blood, giving strength and creating an appetite.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-16

Is beautiful with a bad skin, covered with PIN
pies, freckles, moth or tan. have been asked
many times what will remove these unsighty
blrmishes. No face paints or powders will re-
move them, as they are caused by impure blood
The only sure remedy have ever seen is sulphur
Btters, and In hundrrds Of cases | have never
known them 10 fail Editress Fashion Magazine
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-16

have been a great sufferer from catarrh for
over ten years; had It very bad could hardly
breath, Some nights / could not sleep had to
walk the fnnr. | purchased Ely's Cream Balm
aud am using Il freely; it is working cure SURE
ly. / have advised several friends to use il, and
with happy results in every case. II is the one
medicine above all others made 10 cure cataTh,
and it is worth its weight in gold. | thank God /
have found a remedy can use with safety and
that does all that is claimed for it, II is curing
my deafness. II. ". SperrY, Hartford, conn.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-16

know that In order 10 make AN article which will
satisfy fastidious customers, they must have il
uniform Ia appearance as well as quality, To do
this they use Wells, Richardson a 10 Is Improved
Butter Color, which gives the proper golden color
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-16
rhe Eamous AIbert Lea Route

is No IT0TT, TlV0T0 ITV0 u W0-T N000 WWI WInn0
apols and ST. Paul over this route solid Fast E2prss
Trains run daily q tho tumnrr resorts. picturesque
local ties and hunting and fishing grounds ~ Iowa and
Minnesota. The rich wheat n'. aud grazing lands u
interior Dakota are rr1N he'd VIA Waterfront short,
desirable route Seneca and kaukaktr, ufrrs -tpc-
Tor Inducements To trus ocr- between tiug uun, In
diana polls, Lafayette and Council Buf-. ST. Joseph,
Atchrun Lcayenwurth, Kansas city, Minneapolis, ST.
Paul and intermediate points. Al tlh-Ht' uf patrons.
especially families, ladies and children. receive from
on ais am employees Of Rock Island trains protection,
respectful courtesy and kindly treatment
furTirkrt-, Maps, FuldrTphunBhle at all principal
Ticket Offices IN fine United States and Cauada-ur any
desired Information, address,
r. r. CABLE {. ST. J0Hh. {. 4. NOTEBOOK,
PssafL Osu Agf AsfttsulhGr Gee Ia Aga AT